Related Items

Local Real Estate

Cars For Sale

A COURT has found a Toowoomba tennis identity, 77, was of unsound mind and will not stand trial on charges of sexually abusing children.

The man was charged with seven counts of indecent treatment of children, two of attempted indecent treatment of children and three of common assault which were alleged to have occurred between June 2004 and September 2009.

Supreme Court Judge Ann Lyons said it was alleged the man inappropriately kissed, cuddled and touched young children.

"While there was some initial indication that (he) was disputing the charges, it seems that he now essentially agrees with the substance of the allegations against him," Judge Lyons said.

The Mental Health Court heard evidence from a number of mental health professionals who had differing opinions about whether the man was of unsound mind at the time of the offences.

One of the two assisting psychiatrists said she considered the man did have an awareness of the moral wrongness of his actions as he apologised to one girl and offered her a bribe.

"In her view that indicates he knew what he had done was wrong and that he was attempting to almost bribe her so that she would come back and not tell others," Judge Lyons said.

"He specifically told some other children not to let others see what they were doing and told others not to tell what had happened..."

The man's family said he had become more progressively disinhibited and his social behaviour was inappropriate.

Judge Lyons accepted the man's frontal lobe syndrome impeded his ability to control his behaviour. The charges were discontinued in the Toowoomba Magistrates Court yesterday.